Sunday, May 31, 2009

Big Ben, one of the UK's most iconic landmarks, is 150 years old on Sunday 31st May 2009. It is the world's largest four-faced chiming clock.

The nick name Big Ben is usually used to describe the clock, the tower which houses it (designed by Pugin) as well as the large bell lodged inside. Purists prefer to reserve the term for the large or great bell though there is some uncertainly as to the 'Ben' the nick name derives from.

There are two contenders the commissioner of the works Sir Benjamin Hall and a heavyweight boxer of the time of its casting Benjamin Caunt.

During the second world war there was heavy bombing on London including on the Palace of Westminster. The chamber of the House of Commons was destroyed and whilst the clock face of Big Ben was damaged the clock never stopped working or chiming the quarter hours as it still does today.

The clock was first started on May 31, 1859. Big Ben first struck the hour on July 11 that year

The BBC first broadcast the chimes on December 31, 1923

The chimes are based on Handel’s Messiah, a phrase from the aria I Know that My Redeemer Liveth. They were set to verse and the words inscribed on a plaque in the clock room: All through this hour Lord be my Guide That by Thy Power No foot shall slide

When a bomb destroyed the Commons chamber in 1941, glass was blown out of the south dial but the clock kept going

Both clubs caught their stride at the end of their respective conference finals. Each snowballing with momentum, we're bound to have a colossal collision between these two giants.

After dismantling the Nuggets, the Lakers are back in the championship round, but staring into the eyes of new adversaries. Though questioned and criticized by critics in their series against Houston and Denver, Phil Jackson and Kobe pulled out victories, telling everyone in the basketball world, "we know we're doing".

Dwight Howard, sick of the media hyping the Kobe/Lebron NBA finals showdown, took it upon himself to erase the Cavaliers from the playoff picture in game six. 40 points and 14 rebounds later, he and the Magic find themselves somewhere the team hasn't been in over a decade. Here in new territory, Superman and crew get to prove to the world just how hungry they are.

Many people out there won't give Orlando much of a chance at winning this series, and for good reason; the Lakers are battle tested, more experienced, and have pieces that the Cavs didn't have to take down the Magic.

Bynum and Pau Gasol are very capable on both ends of the court. While on defense, Stan Van Gundy won't be able to cheat off of them to focus on Kobe without paying a price. The Cavaliers did not make the Magic pay for doubling Lebron, but if SVG implements a similar strategy for Kobe, don't expect the same outcome. One glaring problem for the Magic is the Lakers' size down on the block. With Pau and Bynum are on the floor at the same time, I doubt Lewis playing power forward will suffice defensively speaking. Additionally, if Phil runs plays for his big men early and often, Howard is in danger of getting into early foul trouble. It'll be interesting to see whether or not SVG decides to play Gortat and Howard together more often for matchup purposes.

That being said, the Magic can also impose their will on offense if they take the initiative. Playing Rashard at PF allows them to stretch the floor (with Turkoglu, Howard, Lee, and Alston filling the other four spots), drawing Gasol out of the paint. This gives Dwight some room in the middle to execute some post moves, and get Bynum in foul trouble. When the double team comes, Howard knows the kick out to one of his open shooters. If the Magic can consistently hit from behind the arc, then they've got a shot at winning this thing.

For this reason, I think Phil Jackson will choose not to play Gasol and Bynum at the same time, instead opting to have Odom play big minutes at the 4. Kobe, Ariza, and Odom are going to give Orlando's wing-men lots of trouble on defense, and have more than enough offense ability between the three of them keep Orlando defenders honest while the Lakers have the ball.

Much of this battle will be dependent on the coaches. Both teams have multiple options, and it really comes down to how the coaches choose to adjust based on what's happening.

In series 3, Britain’s Got Talent become more popular than ever, with an especially large international audience thanks in large part to one of the most overrated reality TV contestants in recent memory, singer Susan Boyle.

As much hype as there was surrounding Boyle, mounting speculation during the semi-final rounds was that she was no sure thing to win, as there was a lot of talent (in addition to some acts that slipped through merely because they were desperate to fill 40 slots).The top ten who competed in the final were:

2 Grand: grandfather and granddaughter singing duo (on her own, the granddaughter had potential, though either way Callum Francis should have advanced instead)Aidan Davis: 12 year old dancer (who many said was better than last year’s winner George Sampson)Diversity: male dance groupFlawless: male dance groupHollie Steel: 10 year old singer (who many felt was put through with a pity vote after she broke down crying during her semi-final performance)Julian Smith: saxophonistShaheen Jafargholi: 12 year old singer (arguably the best singer in the competition)Shaun Smith: singerStavros Flatly: Greek dancing father and son seriously needing to start wearing shirtsSusan Boyle: singer

The top three acts as voted for by the public are: Susan Boyle, Julian Smith, and Diversity.

In third place is Julian Smith. The Britain’s Got Talent 2009 winner isDiversity. The group dance acts normally get lost in the shuffle, but their creativity made them stand out, which can be attributed largely to choreographer and lead dancer Ashley Banjo. With their win, they are now £100,000 richer and will be performing for the queen at the Royal Variety. As for the other acts, there are several who can make careers out of their talents, not the least of which is runner up Susan Boyle, who Simon Cowell will no doubt be signing any day now.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Call it the the ultimate bachelor pad or a dream home, this is how Hollywood’s “House of the Year” looks like. Put together by the talented folks at Temple Home, the breathtaking 7,000-square-foot structure is the perfect blend of drama, design and innovation. Nestled close to the most shining stars in Hollywood Hills’ best, the lavish home is packed with technology up to its teeth. There’s a CinemaScope theater with a JBL Synthesis system, a 7.1 Sonance architectural speaker layout in the family room and a separate video game room with a triple-screen auto racing simulator and a flat-panel TV. Perfect for a young actor or maybe a talented director, we salute the modern furnishings, the outdoor pool area and the gorgeous scenery that it’s part of. SOLD! - via

The Italians from Zalf are renowned for their modern furniture, but today we laid our eyes on their latest teen room designs. With bold lines and vibrant colours, the rooms suit as great inspiration for anyone trying to redecorate the kids room or are looking for furniture that suits a teenager . They all come with contemporary furnishings, have an eye for details and look stylish enough for an adolescent to love its own space. I wish I had one of these bedrooms when I was a kid. Like it? - via

Imagine a long day at the office and you getting home beat. What if there’s a cozy armchair to give you a big hug? That’s what the Pasha armchair does for you. Designed in 2006 by Carlo Colombo for the Italian manufacturers from Ycami, it features expanded polyurethane in different heights, frame in post-formed wood and stylish fabric that invites your posterior for a comfortable experience. A great adition to any modern environment we’d love two Pasha armchairs in our Freshome office. Definitely takes the stress away by simply lying down for a couple of minutes. - via

Surrounded by books, that’s the whole concept behind the Pozuelo House. Locate in Spain’s capital, Madrid, and covered with a marble shell, the stylish building stands out from the crowd with its exquisite details and geometric purity. Designed by Spain practice architect A-cero around two oblique axes, the Pozuelo House exudes elegance and sophistication in the most charming possible way. With clean, minimalist furnishings, large floor to ceiling windows and an eye for originality and artistic excellence, sounds like an amazing place to for a cold cerveza and a bowl of paella. Don’t you think? - via

With an eye for the stylish Swedish white, we at Freshome blush when something new comes up from real estate site Alvhem. Those guys always seem to find amazing apartments that trigger our emotions and makes us go ‘wow’. This time it’s nothing different. A white wonderland and a brilliant way of bringing in the black that apartment is nothing short of infectious, dangerous - in a good way. Gorgeous is simply an understatement. - via

What do you do if you live in a place where temperatures go down to -10C during winters and over 40C in the summer? How about a private house like this one in Chihuahua? Developed by Mexican-based architects from Productora, the house is part of a golf club community in the desert, northern part of the country. Hence why it’s partially buried into the mountain slope to take advantage of the soil’s thermal mass. When looked from the outside it’s perceived as a single height volume, but when you get inside things change. Organized around a series of patios and roof openings that provide light and ventilation, the interior is minimalist styled with contemporary furniture and large open spaces. An amazing concept, isn’t it?

If by now you had a mirror in the bedroom to check your t-shirt or the new skirt you bought last week, the Italian furniture manufacturers from Porada have taken it to a whole new level. A special collection of stylish drawers and bedside table have now become shinny by being covered with mirrors, Porada manages to add a Parisian feel to your classic looking bedroom. An innovative design that charms with its simplicity, we’re definitely sold on this unique mirror collection. - via

An architectural masterpiece, Marcio Kogan’s Panama House is more than just a place to live. Located in Sao Paolo, Brazil, it’s the uninterrupted connection between the interior and the exterior that makes this stylish building look like an unlimited living space with no walls. Clad in concrete and covered with a sliding vertical wood lathes, the house is beautifully lit at night when the modern furniture with stylish pillows and sofas becomes the main focal point. An amazing house perfect for a long weekend party with the buds, isn’t it? - via